What Sydney needs to transport us to the future

[color=#000000][size=3][font=Guardian Sans', Tahoma, 'Trebuchet MS', TrebuchetMS, sans-serif][b][size=4][b]ASK any city planners, local councils and transport bodies what their wishlist is to help make transport in Western Sydney the best that it can be — and you invariably get a multitude of answers.[/b][/size]

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[color=#000000][size=3][font=Guardian Sans', Tahoma, 'Trebuchet MS', TrebuchetMS, sans-serif]The region boasts the third biggest economy in the nation, but there are those who argue its transport links, in the past, have been poorly planned with no thought for the future.[/font][/size][/color]

[color=#000000][size=3][font=Guardian Sans', Tahoma, 'Trebuchet MS', TrebuchetMS, sans-serif]With 200,000 people travelling out of Western Sydney for work, transport is the key to its economic prosperity.[/font][/size][/color]

[color=#000000][size=3][font=Guardian Sans', Tahoma, 'Trebuchet MS', TrebuchetMS, sans-serif]The state government has already announced more than $30 billion of major transport projects including the $11 billion WestConnex motorway; South West and North West Rail Links ($10.5 billion); and the CBD-South East Light Rail ($1.6 billion).[/font][/size][/color]

[color=#000000][size=3][font=Guardian Sans', Tahoma, 'Trebuchet MS', TrebuchetMS, sans-serif]It is contributing $400 million to the Western Sydney Light Rail proposal and, along with the federal government, spending hundreds of millions upgrading roads to improve access to the Badgerys Creek airport site.[/font][/size][/color]

[color=#000000][size=3][font=Guardian Sans', Tahoma, 'Trebuchet MS', TrebuchetMS, sans-serif]Western Sydney Director of the Sydney Business Chamber David Borger said transport in Western Sydney should do two things — connect people to work and strengthen access to its employment centres.[/font][/size][/color]

[color=#000000][size=3][font=Guardian Sans', Tahoma, 'Trebuchet MS', TrebuchetMS, sans-serif]“Great progress is being made with WestConnex, South West Rail and Northwest Rail. But transport should not just take us east-west to the Sydney CBD.”[/font][/size][/color]

[color=#000000][size=3][font=Guardian Sans', Tahoma, 'Trebuchet MS', TrebuchetMS, sans-serif]Mr Borger said a Sydney orbital route carrying trains and cars is a must. The government is working on plans for the M9 — a direct link between the Central Coast and the Illawarra, connecting the growth centres of Camden, Penrith and Windsor[/font][/size][/color]

[color=#000000][size=3][font=Guardian Sans', Tahoma, 'Trebuchet MS', TrebuchetMS, sans-serif]“An airport at Western Sydney will be a catalyst for new jobs in the North West and South West growth Centres. Penrith needs to be better connected with these surrounding areas as a key Centre for jobs and activity,” he said.[/font][/size][/color]

[color=#000000][size=3][font=Guardian Sans', Tahoma, 'Trebuchet MS', TrebuchetMS, sans-serif]Sydney’s second Lord Mayor, John Chedid at Parramatta, was adamant the Western Sydney Light Rail Network is the region’s most vital new transport infrastructure project. A feasibility study is underway.[/font][/size][/color]

[color=#000000][size=3][font=Guardian Sans', Tahoma, 'Trebuchet MS', TrebuchetMS, sans-serif]Mr Chedid was able to convince the NSW Government to promise $400 million towards the project, centred on Parramatta, and linked to Macquarie Park and The Hills district.[/font][/size][/color]

[color=#000000][size=3][font=Guardian Sans', Tahoma, 'Trebuchet MS', TrebuchetMS, sans-serif]“It will bring more jobs to Western Sydney, cater for our growing population and help reduce traffic congestion,” he said.[/font][/size][/color]

[color=#000000][size=3][font=Guardian Sans', Tahoma, 'Trebuchet MS', TrebuchetMS, sans-serif]Tony Hadchiti, president of the Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils, said with population growth set to surge by more than 1 million over the next 15 years, urgent investment is needed, including access to Badgerys Creek.[/font][/size][/color]

[color=#000000][size=3][font=Guardian Sans', Tahoma, 'Trebuchet MS', TrebuchetMS, sans-serif]The South West Growth Area alone will house a population about the size of Canberra’s.[/font][/size][/color]

[color=#000000][size=3][font=Guardian Sans', Tahoma, 'Trebuchet MS', TrebuchetMS, sans-serif]As well as backing the Western Sydney Light Rail Mr Hadchiti is championing the M9 orbital and the extensions of the North West and South West rail links to meet at Badgerys Creek. airport.[/font][/size][/color]

[color=#000000][size=3][font=Guardian Sans', Tahoma, 'Trebuchet MS', TrebuchetMS, sans-serif]NRMA President Kyle Loades said it is important the WestConnex motorway is “built right” to improve the way Sydney moves for generations.[/font][/size][/color]

[color=#000000][size=3][font=Guardian Sans', Tahoma, 'Trebuchet MS', TrebuchetMS, sans-serif]Transport Minister Gladys Berejiklian has made it a priority to secure future transport corridors. including the extension of the South West and North West rail links to Badgerys Creek.[/font][/size][/color]

[color=#ffffff][size=2]The only remaining evidence of a gun battle which took place at Central Station in 1916 is a small bullet-hole in the marble by the entrance to platform 1. Photos: Chris McKeen[/size][/color]

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[color=#000000][size=3][font=Guardian Sans', Tahoma, 'Trebuchet MS', TrebuchetMS, sans-serif]“The NSW Government is getting on with delivering significant transport infrastructure projects that will improve the lives of people in western Sydney,” she said.[/font][/size][/color]

[color=#000000][size=3][font=Guardian Sans', Tahoma, 'Trebuchet MS', TrebuchetMS, sans-serif]The influential Tourism & Transport Forum (TTF) said Sydney’s chronic traffic congestion problems would only worsen if the federal government does not rethink its policy of spending on roads only.[/font][/size][/color]

[color=#000000][size=3][font=Guardian Sans', Tahoma, 'Trebuchet MS', TrebuchetMS, sans-serif]State government figures show NSW has a $30 billion infrastructure backlog and road congestion costs the local economy about $5.1 billion each year, rising to $8.8 billion each year by 2020.[/font][/size][/color]